Armed group seizes airport in Crimea

KIEV, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- An armed group took control of the airport of Crimea's capital Simferopol in southern Ukraine Friday, one day after gunmen seized the local parliament building, the Interfax news agency reported.

Around 50 armed men, dressed in military uniforms without recognizable marks, arrived at the airport in three trucks, witnesses were quoted as saying.

KIEV, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A new cabinet in favor of anchoring Ukraine in the West emerged Thursday with a tough mandate to steer the country away from a looming economic collapse and find a way to mend its division.

Arseny Yatsenyuk, one of the prominent figures leading the anti- government protests to demand the country's European integration, was named as the new Prime Minister. The 39-year-old politician, economist and lawyer, had served as economy minister, foreign minister, and parliament speaker between 2005 and 2008. Full story

BRUSSELS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A high-ranking diplomat said on Thursday that Ukraine wants to sign its Association Agreement with the EU at the March 20-21 summit of EU leaders, according to local media.

"The signature of the Association Agreement (AA) will bolster Ukraine's strength in the face of Moscow, which is putting greater pressure on Kiev's new authorities, "the Ukrainian ambassador to the EU Kostiantyn Yelisieiev told EurActiv, just before meeting high EU officials to pass on the same message. Full story